WWF-Canada and Loblaw award green grants to schools to support environmental projects
“From solar heating and wind energy, to butterfly gardens and cycle repair shops, these students have many of the answers to the environmental challenges we face,” said Gerald Butts, President and CEO, WWF-Canada. “We’re proud to support these students in their quest to become greener citizens and help build sustainable communities.”
The grants, made possible through a corporate donation and partial proceeds from Loblaw’s national plastic shopping bag reduction program, were awarded to schools working on environmental projects that help reduce their community’s impact on the environment, increase understanding of environmental issues and solutions, stimulate environmental leadership, and inspire students and their communities to take action.
The projects funded covered a wide range of innovative initiatives to help schools and students reduce environmental impact in their communities, such as:
- Butterfly gardens, vegetable gardens and rain gardens
- Cycling tours and student-led bike repair shops
- Outdoor classrooms and schoolyard greening projects
- Green energy demonstration projects
- Composting and waste reduction programs
“The Loblaw national plastic shopping bag reduction program has helped to divert more then 1.3 billion plastic shopping bags from landfill and we hope it has showed Canadians how making simple changes to their everyday behaviour can have a positive impact on the environment,” said Bob Chant, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Loblaw Companies Limited. “Through Loblaw’s support of initiatives such as WWF-Canada’s Green CommUnity School Grants Program we believe we can continue to help Canadians of all ages find ways to take on the challenges facing our environment.”
Any private, public, or independent Canadian elementary or secondary school that is working on a green initiative is eligible to apply for grants up to $5000. Applications undergo a blind review by a panel of experts. Find out more at wwf.ca/greencommunitygrants.
The granting program supports WWF-Canada’s goal of inspiring Canadians to take positive environmental action in their everyday lives. In addition to working with students and schools, WWF-Canada works with Canadians online, offline, in urban and rural communities to help reduce their footprint by making smart environmental choices, recognizing those individuals who are leading by example and celebrating collective action to motivate others. Learn more at wwf.ca or www.facebook.com/wwfcanada.
About WWF-Canada
WWF-Canada (World Wildlife Fund Canada) is a member of WWF, one of the world’s largest independent conservation organizations, active in more than 100 countries. WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature to thrive. In Canada, we create solutions to conservation issues important to Canadians and the world. WWF-Canada works collaboratively with governments, businesses and the public to help fight climate change, the single biggest environmental threat to our planet; conserve our oceans and freshwater resources; and educate and mobilize people to build a conservation culture. WWF-Canada’s main office is in Toronto, with regional offices located in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, St. Albert, Ottawa, Halifax and St. John’s. For more information, visit wwf.ca.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada’s largest food distributor and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ over 138,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian customers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada’s strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President’s Choice®, no name® and Joe Fresh Style® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to customers President’s Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program
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For further information:
Josh Laughren, Director, Communications, WWF-Canada, 416-484-7708 [email protected]
Loblaw Public Relations Department: 905-459-2500, [email protected]